MY 50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

And the day has finally come...  

I turned 50. 

When I was younger, 50 was like oldy-oldy with grandkids and a ton of accomplishments. 

But ENNNNNNNGK (buzzer sound na matinis) when turning 50 was around the corner, I realized that I didn't have a lot...

a. I didn't have grandkids (not that I know of... well I better don't).
b. I didn't have a lot of major accomplishments BUT I'm working for a boss whom I idolize and respect soooo much in the number one noontime show in the Philippines.
c. I didn't have a lot of friends (well..... just valued the reals and so lazy to make new ones... ha ha ha).
AND
d. I didn't have the reality of what I projected for when I turned 50. 

But you know what? Honestly? Seriously? 

I'M JUST FOINEEE WITH IT.

Of course there will always be room for improvement and goals to accomplish, but the good thing though is that I'm not as worried nor insecure of my non-achievements as I did before when I would celebrate my earlier birthdays. 

So yeah! The golden 50??? Yohooo!!!!!!

I got actually so excited for 50 because my family and I had a lot of plans -- I saved for multiple travels and plotted all the restaurants that we'll be eating in. Yep. If you saw my other birthdays where we did a lot, trust me, it was going to be double this year. 

Or so we thought. He he he he he he! Dan! Dan! Dannnnn!!!!!

I don't want to get into details but like they say if we were initially planning to go West, plans went for the East. He he he he he he! It's okay though because no one may have warned me about life going to be this way (thank you "FRIENDS" series) we still had a LOT to be thankful for. And I think one of the main reasons why I'm now so FOINE and thankful for everything is that life has a way of putting trivial matters in perpective. 

So saying that plans did not go the way we wanted to may be an understatement, but believe it or not, EVERYTHING was still memorable and had it's own special charm to it.

We had many unexpected celebrations but they are all something which I will definitely not forget!

One of the best things too is that we have yet to do our initial plans... so yeah, there is still something to look forward to and excited for....  ha ha ha ha! Party party tugs tugs!

Also, looking at the bright side and valuing what we have right now. I just know and pray that everything's going to be better by the grace of God. 

So here I am sharing also my simple celebrations... yet I assure you, they're the most memorable, unforgettable, and somehow romantic for me.

And if you ask if given the chance if I'll change anything for the last 50 years? (Well.... apart from hoping that I should've followed BTS sooner so that I'll be able to watch when they were in the Philippines....) 

I would say, not a minute.

:) 

I'm 50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aaaaaaaah!!!!!

SENIOR CITIZEN NA AKOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My birthday celebrations somehow started with a treat to my Mom and the boys via a degustation dinner in THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM at THE MANILA HOTEL.

Have you tried it? We enjoyed it SOOOO MUCH since our last dinner to celebrate Mommy's birthday that we go here almost every month.... Ha ha ha ha ha! 

Aba emo si isang server o!

This was actually a post Valentimes dinner treat for the boys and Mom but then the server asked if we are celebrating a birthday. The boys whispered that it will be my birthday soon. 

Kaya voila! First mini bday surprise!

Loved the brownie cake topped with fresh fruits. SO Y.U.M!

I only had 1 wish that night and I know that with prayers, it will come true!

SUUUUPER FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the night before my birthday, we had an impromptu dinner at one of my favorites... 

CAFE MARY GRACE at... basta somewhere in BGC!

My big guy accompanied me and the hub so I'm very thankful to him!

We got the salad...

I had Carbonara.... 

Mati had the Tapsilog....

YEP. Simot na simot. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

The big guy went home na so the Yub and I went to our room. 

Yep! I'M GETTING A BOOB JOB as gift for my 50 year old cutie self!!!

That ANNND a forehead reduction! HA!

Come 12am, somebody surprised me with a birthday song. 

Awwwww... Chocolate cake! My favorite!

(by the way, would you believe that we put this in the fridge and somehow forgot about it? I saw it after a month and OKAY NA OKAY PA SYA! Seriously! And guess what?

I ATE IT PA! ha ha ha ha ha)

Thank you sooo much Yub! Was so touched that he really made an effort to go to and sit beside me. 

Again, I only had 1 wish that night.... 

SECRET!

Awwwww... was also so touched that Mati stayed up till 12am to join me in his Daddy's bday song! Awwwwwwww....

The next day I got a cool surprise from my family!

At first Mati came in lang saying that my Mom just sent me food (and surprisingly I was so foine with it and not tampo ha ha ha ha ha.. uy mature na ako). Then when Mati went out to call our driver kuno, I followed and saw they were all there! 

AWWWWWW!!!! I knew they couldn't resist me on my birhtday!!!!!

ROLL CALL!

Me and Mommy!

She gave me my gift na din! YAY!

Ate Jit!

Hay kuya Jon didn't want to have a pic!

Anthony, ate Jit's hub, came too!!!!!!!! (He snuck an hour from work... ha ha ha)

Of course my 2 boys came too!

Master Mati!

Awwwww he was my family's accomplice! Nag-acting acting pa! 

Awwww! Andrei came! (Direct from school).

Mas inuna pa ang Leche Flan kesa sakin! Ha ha ha ha ha!

Kidding! Baka quality check. He he he he!

But still, CHE!

They brought my favorite food for an impromptu suuuper sarap birthday lunch! Buti na lang I haven't ordered anything yet! He he he he he!

Yep! When it all comes down to it, I'm already sooooo happy with KFC, pansit, and rice! 

AAACKK!!! Oo na 50 na ako!!!!!

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!

Thank you sooo much!!!

My Mom brought KFC and cake for the nurses at their station.

No pancit because they have this belief that having pancit while on duty will make the night a toxic shift!!!!

Was so surprised later on when they all showed up in our room and gave me a birthday song with balloons!!!

AWWWWWW!

Was so touched with their song that I treated them agan to some pizza. Ha ha ha ha ha!

Buti na lang hindi na nila ako kinantahan uli otherwise.... HELLO MIDNIGHT SNACK!

For dessert, Mati and angel Janit got everyone Starbucks!

So thankful for my family for stopping by. 

Took them to the elevator and was a bit sad to see them go. 

A bit sad lang because I'll see them all naman this weekend. Ha ha ha ha!

Awwwww.... boys dont go!!!

WAIT... did my shirt just say J-69????

Kidding. 

And I loved my spread soooo much! I ate it all again that night not because I had to (since I usually order what I wanted via grab he he he) but because I really wanted to. 

As in I got myself a full plate of KFC and pancit with rice before my family left (I asked them to take home the unti food that was leftover because my ref was already packed.)

I swear I ate like a hungry karpintero that night (I dont know why maybe because it's been a while since I had KFC but also because it's my boithday and it just made everything soooo delish).

I finished that sinful meal with a long chug of ice cold Coke zero. YUMMMMMMMMM!

After dinner I realized why the Yub seemed so stressed the whole day.

It was because the florist did not deliver the 2 bouquets of flowers he ordered for my birthday morning!!!!

Check it out!!! The left one is from the Yub while the right is from the boys. 

It arrived finally at night after Yub called them several times and giving them a mouthful. 

Awwwww... Kahit nga hindi dumating, the thought that he ordered was enough. 

Thank youuu!

And here's the note from the boys (na I'm sure from the Yub he he he)!

The next day, Yub's Mom visited him and also gave me flowers.

She also gave gifts from dear Ivy and hub Allan (brother of the Yub)

I REQUESTED FOR PEANUTS!! YAYYAYAYYAYA!

And now they are 3!!!!

The next day when I returned to work, I got sooooooooooo kilig with my boss' surprise at the office!

There's even more on my table!!!!

This was my first time to be surprised EVER at work! 

WOAHHHH!

Kaya super unforgettable!

Wohooo... My gift from Direk Poochie!

This was from my boss, Mam Jen! 

WOAHHHH!!!!!!!!!

This was my top view while working...

And the bottom view!

I swear when I saw this I had a slight panic attack because my table was really messy (AS IN) that I got cold sweats just thinking about how my boss felt (when she asked somebody to clear it up for this).

My boss also gave me a cake and had the writers/creative team sing me a quick song with Direk Poochie!

Check out the many Suga masks. He he he he! Yep!! From her also!

And there was only one wish for me for that cake. 

Me with the TVJ Sales Team!

My treat for TVJ Productions staff and hosts was going to be lechon and lunch.

BUT, timing that we are also celebrating a special anniversary that day that there was a potluck party planned... kaya...

Lechon na lang my contribution! He he he he he!!!!!

Again just to clarify, the whole spread is NOT MY TREAT. I only brought the lechon. He he he he he he!

Thank you sooo much Mam Jeny!

Words can't express how I'm so touched with all the thought and effort for my work surprise. Not to mention po how I appreciate all that you do for us in TVJ and for my family :) Thank you po talaga :) 

We love you!!!!!!

My last birthday celebration for me this year (yep... last na agad! He he he he) was my birthday lunch treat for my family. 

My Mom has been wishing for lechon for sooo long kaya sige, had my favorite Lechon Cebu for Sunday birthday lu-uuunch!

And we got other dishes on the side!!!!

Seafood Broil!!!

And if you check at the back, there's also ensalatang eggplant!

Mussels in Ginger Soup!!!!!!

(Soup was in a separate pot)

We also got Pancit Canton again because... you can't have a birthday lunch without pancit!!!!!!

ANNNND... can't have a birthday too without cake!

Thanks Mareng Joan, Abet, and Sky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then it's time to eat!!!

YOHOOO!

Yes... some are already so hungry. Ha ha ah ah! CHE! Grrrrr!

EATING time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While eating, my niece Rocio called from Georgetown University. Yeah... I miss the little squirt. 

After a loooooooong lunch... This was the aftermath.

SOOOO GOOD! I LOVED THE LECHON SOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Afterwards it's time for my gifts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAYYY!

My Mom gave me this beautiful necklace!!!

Thank you Pia and Kuya Jay for the cologne and candle!!

Smells sooooo good!

Thank you Kuya Jon!!!!

Yohooo! I have new blouse and sweater!!!!!!!

Ate Jit gave me a pandora bracelet!!!!! 

I SOOOOOO LOVE IT!

It's my first time to have Pandora and I'm so excited to fill it up with meaningful gems!

Thank you dearest Mati!!!!!

Thank you for the socks!!!! He he he he! I guess you heard me always borrowing from your daddy. Tee hee!

Awwww! So thoughtful! Thank you sooo much! Love my new socks!

(For the record, I haven't worn it kasi I dont want to wear it off. SERIOUSLY. Ha ha ha ha)

And now from Andrei.

BORING. 

Kidding!!!!

Thank you my bunsoy Andrei for the coffee! I know you bought this with your own money. 

Yep and it's mine. ALL MINE!

And last but not the least is my gift from the Yubhub.....

A stopper for my Pandora bracelet!!!

Isn't it beautiful???

I so love my bracelet!!!!!

His gift was originally a pair of shoes, but he got my measurements wrong so had it returned. Worked out for the best thought because I told Yub how frustrated I was when ate Jit's gems would always fall when I unlock my bracelet. 

The Pandora lady suggested a stopper!!!!

Sooo... the Yub got me one and I so love it too!!!!! 

I would always say that it was just so right that Yub gave me a STOPPER because "pinapahinto" niya puso ko and he's my last! HEHEHEHEHEHHE! 

So there you have it.

My 2025 birthday celebrations for my 50th! 

There may not be hotel staycations, out of town or country trips, dinners in Mamou or Kimpura, and celebrations that lasted weeks or even a month, because like I said, many plans didn't push through as there were unexpected matters that came up. 

Saying that my birthday celebrations were not what I expected may be a huge understatement too. He he he he he!

Now was I sorry or angry?

OF COURSE NOT!

The way I see it I may not get the celebrations that I wanted but I got what I needed. 

I know that I always stressed on it before but this is the year that really made me value my family more. Not just my YAPPY BUNCH or GATDULA fam, but also the family of my husband. 

This is also the year that I confirmed how I dont' really need many extravagant celebrations nor need a hellota people to feel happy and complete. I really just need my family, my husband, my kids, and the few who value my existence. They know who they are. 

With this experience, I NEVER felt something was lacking or that I was missing something. In fact I was more like, I will still have a great time even if it's just with a bucket of KFC. I was able to confirm that it was not what and how you are celebrating but WHO you are celebrating with.

I admit there was a time that I teared up on the day of my actual birthday while I was washing up some feeding equipment in the hospital. Parang for a moment naawa ako sa sarili ko. Ha ha ha ha ha! Later on though I straightened up and realized....

If before I would feel bad at my lack of accomplishments or childish attitude, now I feel that I am indeed strong, responsible, and devoted... when needed.

Yes when needed kasi I'm still lazy. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

I was actually proud of myself at some instances where I was able to do what I doubted myself if I could do it before.

So yeah...  I think... no, I KNOW that I'm at my strongest right now.

And yep. That was at my 50.

SO.

THERE.

MY 45TH BDAY CELEBRATIONS
MY 44TH BDAY CELEBRATIONS
MY 43RD BDAY CELEBRATIONS
MY 42ND BDAY CELEBRATIONS
MY 41ST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS!
MY 40TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

++++++++++++++++++++ 

ILYDandBGP!